Certified for marine fuel processing at full flow

A Westfalia Separator product story

Edited by the Processingtalk editorial team Jan 10, 2007

DNV have certified the diesel fuel separation efficiency of Westfalia D-type separators, used for removal of the solid particles that cause wear of the injection systems on ships engines, at full flow

Westfalia Separator announce that their D-type separators for fuel processing on ships have had their flow rates certified as accurate for performance ranges of up to 57,500l/hr by Det Norske Veritas, one of the leading ship classification companies in the world.

A new common measurement standard instigated by DNV enables comparison of separators manufactured by different companies: it gives shipping companies a true means of identifying their individual efficiency.

So called 'cat fines' (aluminium-silicon compounds) are mainly responsible for the wear in the injection system and other important components in diesel engines in ships.

For efficient fuel treatment by separators it is extremely important to reduce the aluminium content, the silicon and to some extent the ash content.

However until this latest initiative it has been difficult for shipping companies to compare the performance results of the separators from different manufacturers.

To obtain the common standard DNV set up a working party of CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) that included engine manufacturers, separator producers and oil companies.

The group jointly agreed the test design and procedures.

A synthetic oil was defined as test oil and calibrated globules were defined as solid particles.

The aim of the procedure was to ensure that the centrifuge separated at least 85% of these calibrated test globules.

This resulted in specific certified flow rates for every separator type, ie certified performance parameters that satisfy the requirement for 85% separation.

CLEAR RESULTS.

The result was clear, whereas other separator manufacturers had to reduce their specification on throughput capacities, in some cases by up to 25%, Westfalia Separator flow rates for D-type OSD 6, OSD 18, OSD 35 and OSD 60 separators were confirmed.